Liverpool 2-1 Everton: Divine ponytail Carroll seals final berth

£35m striker heads in late winner after missing sitter

Andy Carroll of Liverpool celebrates scoring his side's second goal with team mate Martin Skrtel

FOR 87 minutes, Kenny Dalglish must have yearned for the days when Ian Rush wore Liverpool’s No. 9.

It may be too simplistic to claim Andy Carroll’s failure to deliver any ­tangible ­return on the £35million – which Dalglish persuaded the club’s owners to invest in the 23-year-old – was ­threatening to get ­Liverpool’s manager the sack.

But after this week saw Damien ­Comolli lose his job as director of football, ­Dalglish was left squirming on the touchline as the club’s record signing once again appeared out of his depth.

One miss, early in the ­second half as Everton ­defended the lead plundered by Nikica Jelavic, would have embarrassed a striker who plies his trade on the Stanley Park pitches that separate Anfield and Goodison.Then, with extra-time ­approaching, came the ­moment that may well provide ­salvation for both Carroll and Dalglish.

The striker wasn’t even ­looking towards goal when Craig Bellamy floated a free-kick into the heart of Everton’s box from wide on the left.

But he used the back of his head to guide the ball beyond Tim Howard and send an ­eruption through the east end of Wembley.

Rush, that master ­marksman who settled both all-Merseyside finals in Liverpool’s ­favour in the 1980s, had been watching through his fingers as Carroll’s nightmare unfolded. Now, he was ­dancing in the throng as the red ­masses looked forward to returning to the national stadium next month.

“It was the best feeling ever,” said Carroll.

“I had a few chances and should have scored ­earlier, but I always believed in ­myself. I tell ­myself that every ­single day.”

It says much about how these close rivals have become separated since they were the kings of English football that Dalglish needed this more than David Moyes.

Liverpool may have already claimed the Carling Cup this season, but Dalglish’s position will still come under scrutiny, following failure in the ­Premier League.

After Jay Spearing and ­Martin Skrtel had wasted early chances for the Reds, it was the Blues who were ahead in the 24th minute.

Dalglish’s decision to use Daniel Agger as a left-back so that he could call on the Scouse nous of Jamie ­Carragher backfired when both players hesitated to make a routine clearance.

When Carragher swiped at the ball, it bounced off Tim Cahill into the path of Jelavic.

And the Croatian gave ­stand-in keeper Brad Jones no hope with a clinical finish.

It didn’t look like being ­Liverpool’s day, especially when Carroll missed a ­glorious chance two minutes after half-time.

There seemed no way that he could miss when Stewart Downing floated in a ­delicious far-post cross. Carroll didn’t even have to break his stride. But his downward header flashed a yard wide.

Dalglish hinted before the game that he should have ­handled Luis Suarez’s racism row with more subtlety.

But the Uruguayan is a livewire performer and when Sylvain Distin’s woefully underhit backpass allowed him to look into the whites of Howard’s eyes, there was no mercy.

Suarez used the ­outside of his right boot to guide his shot into the bottom corner.

Initially, it didn’t get better for Carroll, who sent a flashing left-foot strike just wide before missing his kick ­from six yards with the goal gaping.